Calla lily plant named ‘Dozandal’

ABSTRACT

‘Dozandal’ is a new variety of calla lily plant having dark purple colored spathes without a throat spot that produces 7-12 inflorescences per 16-18 cm tuber. The flower stems are about 15-26 cm in height. The leaves are dark green with maculations present and a smooth texture.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘Dozandal’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of calla lily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafter referred to by the varietal name ‘Dozandal’. ‘Dozandal’ is a product of a planned breeding program, which had the objective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production in a wide range of colors with a classic flower shape. The new cultivar is a seedling selected from the crossing of Zantedeschia sprengeri variety ‘Odessa’ (female parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,833) with Zantedeschia sprengeri variety ‘Allure’ (male parent, unpatented). ‘Dozandal’ was selected in 2009 by the inventor in 't Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Dozandal’ by tissue culture was performed by the inventor in January of 2013 in 't Zand, The Netherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at the same location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproduced true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants at approximately 11 weeks from planting in 14 cm pots in 't Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouse conditions, which approximate those generally used in horticultural practice. Color references are made to The 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, 4^(th) Edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Dozandal’ which, in combination, distinguish this calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Medium dark colored spathes without a throat spot;     -   2. Dark green colored leaves;     -   3. Medium leaf maculations present; and     -   4. High inflorescence production.

The new variety is similar to its female parent in the following traits: dark spathe color without a throat spot, purple spadix color, lanceolate leaf shape, and the presence of leaf maculations. However, ‘Dozandal’ exhibits a shorter spadix length, weaker stem strength, narrower spathe width, shorter spathe length, and shorter plant height than its female parent. Further, its female parent exhibits a green/red colored stem. The new variety is similar to its male parent in the following traits: lanceolate leaf shape, the presence of leaf maculations, green stem color, and weak stem strength. However, its male parent has a red spathe color with a throat spot and a yellow/red colored spadix.

When compared to calla lily plant named ‘Purple Spirit’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,648), both varieties exhibit dark colored spathes, but the upper and lower surface spathe colors of ‘Purple Spirit’ are from Red-Purple Group RHS 61A to 71A, while the upper surface spathe color of ‘Dozandal’ is Purple Group RHS N77A and the lower surface spathe colors of ‘Dozandal’ are from Purple Group RHS N77B to N77C.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety taken at approximately 11 weeks of age, with the colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 illustrates a single flowering plant of the new variety; and

FIG. 2 illustrates multiple flowering plants of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Type: Deciduous.     -   -   Size.—Height of the leaf canopy above the soil: 12-13 cm.             Height of top of inflorescences above the soil: 15-26 cm.             Diameter: 27-36 cm.         -   Form.—Semi-spreading.         -   Number of inflorescences per tuber.—Size 16-18 cm in             diameter: 7-12 inflorescences.         -   Branches.—Number: Average. Color: Green Group RHS 143B to             143C. Young shoot color: Purple Group RHS N77B to N77C. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Width: 5-6 cm, with the broadest part being in the             middle. Length: 19-22 cm.         -   Number per plant.—16-27.         -   Leaf blade lobes.—Absent.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Caudate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire; having a color of Green Group RHS 137A.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Green Group RHS 137A, with medium,             linear Greyed-Green Group RHS 191B to 191C maculations             present. Lower surface: Green Group RHS 137B to 137C, with             medium, linear Greyed-Green Group RHS 191D maculations             present.         -   Veins.—Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Yellow-Green Group RHS             144B to 144C.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth (both surfaces).         -   Petiole.—Length: 10-12 cm. Diameter: 8-10 mm. Color: The             base is Yellow-Green Group RHS 144B to 144C, the upper part             is Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A.         -   Roots.—         -   Color.—White Group RHS 155C.         -   Branching description.—Fibrous root system. Several main             roots emerge from the top of the tuber and form a small             number of lateral roots. -   Spathe:     -   -   Size.—Length (measured from opening to tip): 5-6 cm. Width:             3.5-4.5 cm. Height: 5-6.5 cm.         -   Color.—Throat spot: Absent. Upper surface: Purple Group RHS             N77A. Lower surface: Purple Group RHS N77B to N77C.         -   Vein color.—Purple Group RHS N79B to N79C.         -   Shape.—Leaf-like.         -   Apex.—Caudate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire, with a color of Purple Group RHS N77A to             N77B.         -   Spadix.—         -   Shape.—Cylinder.         -   Size.—Length: 25-33 mm. Diameter: 9-12 mm.         -   Color.—Purple Group RHS N79B.         -   Position relative to spathe.—Upright.         -   Peduncle.—         -   Size.—Length: 12.5-26 cm. Diameter: 9-12 mm.         -   Color.—The upper part is Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A to             144B, the lower part is Yellow-Green Group RHS 144C to 144D.         -   Texture.—Smooth. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Location of female organs.—Basal position of the spadix.         -   Location of male organs.—Upper position of the spadix.         -   Perianth.—Conspicuous.         -   Stamens.—Presence: Not visible before pollen release.             Number: Between 480 and 600. Pollen amount: Scarce. Color:             Between White Group RHS 155B and 155C.         -   Anther.—Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Yellow             Group RHS 8B to 8C.         -   Filament.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: White Group RHS             155D.         -   Pistils.—Number: 15 to 30. Length beyond perianth: About 1             mm.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Size: Less than 1 mm.         -   Style.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Yellow Group RHS 8B to             8C.         -   Ovaries.—Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm. Width:             Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: The top color is Yellow-Green             Group RHS 144C to 144D, the bottom color is Purple Group RHS             N79A to N79B. -   Seeds:     -   -   Length.—2.5-3.2 mm.         -   Width.—1.8-2.9 mm.         -   Color.—Black Group RHS 202A.         -   Amount.—12 per inflorescence. -   Disease resistance: No unusual susceptibility/resistance to diseases     noticed to date.     -   -   Pest resistance.—No unusual susceptibility/resistance to             pests noticed to date.         -   Heat tolerance.—No heat tolerance.         -   Hardiness.—Not tested to date.         -   Flowering.—In general, the time from indoor and outdoor             planting to first flowering takes about eight weeks in The             Netherlands.         -   Lastingness.—About two weeks on the plant.         -   Fragrance.—None. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘Dozandal’ as herein described and illustrated. 